I got the phone!

I successfully managed to get the iPhone 11 Pro Max on launch day. And it was a harrowing experience! (Sort of)

So what happened was that I missed the pre-order window when the pre-order page was up on the 13th October at the official Apple online store. At that time, I wasn’t thinking about upgrading my iPhone but instead pre-ordered an Apple Watch series 5 (the aluminium version). But after looking at the unboxing video, and staring at the promotional pictures of the new, midnight green model of the iPhone 11 Pro Max, I was seduced by its beauty and elegance.

I cancelled my watch pre-order, but couldn’t secure a collection slot on launch day at the Apple Store for the Apple iPhone, because a few days have passed since the pre-order window opened and all the slots were either full, or the midnight green model is already sold out on launch day.

I was getting desperate. I refreshed the online store page several times throughout the day for a couple of days but no avail. The slots just wouldn’t open to more customers. The shipping date for the midnight green models were pushed back all the way till mid October. That is just ridiculous.

Fortunately, I realised that Challenger has its own online store, called Hachi-Tech. They were doing pre-orders too! And they were still selling the midnight green model on their website! I immediately went through the pre-ordering page and managed to secure a set!

On the eve of the launch, I received a collection email, stating that I can officially collect my set on launch day. I was so excited that I couldn’t really sleep. The next morning, I got up early and went straight to the store at Jurong Point to collect the phone. Finally! I managed to get one on launch day! Collection was seamless, although they had some technical issue on their computers, resulting in being unable to process my collection. But after 30 minutes or so, they managed to rectify it.

I went straight home and voila, immediately set out to load my phone backup from iCloud to the phone. Within the hour all my apps started downloaded and soon after, the entire phone set up was completed. It was easy, seamless and painless.

Now it’s just a matter of tinkering with the phone, getting used to the camera and its various new functions and capabilities. I will probably do a short write up on my initial impressions of the phone soon, probably this weekend or next week after I have run the phone through its paces, using it as part of my daily routine.